Former Cleveland Cavalier head coach and Hall of Fame basketball icon Lenny Wilkens has died at the age of 88.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Wilkens went on to play collegiate basketball at Providence College, where he was a two-time All-America in 1959 and 1960.
He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1960 NBA Draft and went on to play for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Portland Trail Blazers, and, for two seasons, for the Cavs.
As a player, Wilkens was a nine-time NBA All-Star and, at the time of his retirement in 1975, was second on the NBA's list of all-time assists. With the Cavs, he was an All-Star and became the first Cavalier to be the head coach in an All-Star game in 1989.
Wilkens began his coaching career as a player-coach with the SuperSonics from 1969 to 1972 and was also a player-coach for the Trail Blazers for a season.
Over his coaching career, Wilkens led the SuperSonics, Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and from 1986-1993 was the head coach for the Cavs.
Wilkens led the Cavs to the playoffs in five of his seven seasons as their head coach. He holds the franchise record for most wins as a coach.
In 1998, Wilkens was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2022, the Cavs inducted Wilkens into their Wall of Honor, a feature inside Rocket Arena honoring the franchise's legends.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement Sunday regarding Wilkens' death:
“Lenny Wilkens represented the very best of the NBA – as a Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, and one of the game’s most respected ambassadors. So much so that, four years ago, Lenny received the unique distinction of being named one of the league’s 75 greatest players and 15 greatest coaches of all time.
“But even more impressive than Lenny’s basketball accomplishments, which included two Olympic gold medals and an NBA championship, was his commitment to service – especially in his beloved community of Seattle where a statue stands in his honor. He influenced the lives of countless young people as well as generations of players and coaches who considered Lenny not only a great teammate or coach but also an extraordinary mentor who led with integrity and true class.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to Lenny’s wife, Marilyn; their children, Leesha, Randy and Jamee; and all those throughout the NBA community who were fortunate to be touched by Lenny’s leadership and generosity.”
We Follow Through
Want us to continue to follow through on a story? Let us know.